What is the potential of biochar?

What is Biochar?

• Definition: Biochar is a carbon-rich, stable form of charcoal produced via pyrolysis (thermal decomposition in absence of oxygen) of organic material like agricultural waste and municipal solid waste.
• Nature: Porous, black solid, with high carbon content (up to 80–90%) and alkaline pH.
• Stability: Remains in soil for 100–1,000 years, making it a long-term carbon sink.

Relevance : GS 3(Energy Security , Science )

What are the byproducts of biochar production?

• Key Byproducts:
  • Syngas (Synthesis Gas): Mixture of CO, H₂, CH₄ — energy-rich and combustible.
  • Bio-oil: Liquid fuel with energy density similar to crude oil.
• Quantitative Estimates (India):
  • Syngas: 20–30 million tonnes/year.
  • Bio-oil: 24–40 million tonnes/year.
  • Together, these can generate 8–13 TWh of electricity (~0.5–0.7% of India’s annual generation).
• Fossil Fuel Offsets:
  • Coal: Replaces 0.4–0.7 million tonnes/year.
  • Diesel/Kerosene: Offsets 12–19 million tonnes (~8% of production).
  • Emission Reduction: Cuts >2% of fossil-fuel-based emissions.

How can these byproducts generate electricity and fuels?

• Electricity:
  • Syngas can be used in gas turbines or internal combustion engines to produce power at small or grid scale.
  • Co-firing syngas with natural gas or coal is feasible in hybrid plants.
• Fuels:
  • Bio-oil can be refined into transport fuels, used in industrial boilers, or blended with fossil fuels.
  • Helps in reducing diesel/kerosene imports, aiding energy security.
• Circular Economy: Converts agricultural and organic waste into value-added energy products, reducing landfill burden.

How can biochar help the construction sector?

• Applications in Construction:
  • Added to cement and concrete to:
    • Improve thermal insulation.
    • Enhance durability and water retention.
    • Reduce carbon footprint of concrete (~8% of global CO₂ emissions).
• Eco-bricks:
  • Biochar can be used in compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs) or fired bricks to lower embodied carbon.
• Carbon-negative Building Materials:
  • Incorporating biochar creates materials that store more carbon than emitted during production.

Why is biochar underrepresented in carbon credit systems?

• Lack of Recognition:
  • Not formally recognised as a verifiable CO₂ removal technology in many carbon markets.
  • Absence of standardised protocols for MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification).
• Technical Complexity:
  • Varying properties due to different feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions make quantification difficult.
• Fragmented Policy Landscape:
  • No integrated policy framework connecting agriculture, waste management, energy, and climate sectors.
• Business Model Constraints:
  • High upfront costs.
  • Lack of viable producer–user linkages and private financing.
  • Limited awareness among investors, farmers, and startups.

How should large-scale adoption of biochar be enabled?

Policy and Regulatory Measures:

• Recognise biochar in India’s carbon market (2026):
  • Define biochar as a carbon removal pathway.
  • Issue carbon credits for its application in agriculture, waste-to-energy, and construction.
• Integrate into existing schemes:
  • National Bio-Energy Mission, Crop Residue Management Schemes, and State Climate Action Plans.

Research & Innovation:

• Invest in R&D:
  • Create region-specific feedstock standards.
  • Develop low-cost pyrolysis units suitable for Indian villages.
  • Standardise MRV frameworks for biochar lifecycle carbon capture.

Rural Deployment & Job Creation:

• Village-scale biochar units:
  • Potential to create 5.2 lakh rural jobs.
  • Engage Panchayats, FPOs, and SHGs as production and distribution nodes.

Market Development:

• Awareness campaigns for:
  • Farmers (soil health and yield benefits).
  • Startups and investors (carbon credits, fuel substitutes).
• Promote Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and Carbon Finance Platforms.

Agricultural Co-benefits:

• Increases soil fertility by enhancing water/nutrient retention.
• Reduces fertilizer need by 10–20%.
• Improves crop yield by 10–25%.

Related News and Context

• Indian Carbon Market (ICM):
  • Launch scheduled for 2026, with a focus on carbon removal credits alongside avoidance credits.
• National Bio-Energy Programme (2021-26):
  • Incentivising biomass and waste-to-energy projects, under which biochar can be included.
• International Reference:
  • IPCC AR6 (2022) lists biochar among “low-risk” carbon dioxide removal (CDR) options.
  • EU Biochar Certification standards (EBC) adopted in 15+ countries.
• Mission LiFE and SDG 13 (Climate Action):
  • Biochar aligns with India’s commitments under Paris Agreement and LiFE lifestyle campaigns.

Conclusion: Why Biochar Matters

• Multisectoral Gains:
  • Climate mitigation, waste management, soil regeneration, energy security, job creation, and construction innovation.
• Science-backed, scalable, inclusive:
  • With right enablers, biochar can contribute to Net-Zero 2070 targets and decentralised green growth.